Iran or Persie, kent offeecially as the Islamic Republic o Iran, is a kintra in Wastren Asie. Wi ower 81 million indwallers, Iran is the warld's 18t maist populous kintra. Comprisin a laund aurie o 1,648,195 km2 (636,372 sq mi), it is the seicont lairgest kintra in the Middle East an the 17t lairgest in the warld. Iran is mairchit tae the northwast bi Armenie an the Republic o Azerbaijan, tae the north bi the Caspian Sea, tae the northeast bi Turkmenistan, tae the east bi Afghanistan an Pakistan, tae the sooth bi the Persie Gulf an the Gulf o Oman, an tae the wast bi Turkey an Iraq. The kintra's central location in Eurasie an Wastren Asia, an its proximity tae the Strait o Hormuz, gie it geostrategic importance. Tehran is the kintra's caipital an lairgest ceety, as weel as its leadin economic an cultural centre.